Johnny Kampes Makes His Pro Baseball Debut for the Frederick Keys

7/10/2023 12:00:00 AM

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Goldey-Beacom catcher Johnny Kampes (Colora, MD) continued to generate news in making his professional debut for the Frederick Keys of the Major League Baseball Draft League.

This huge step for the Lightning's program comes after Kampes also was tabbed second team All-East Region by the Conference Commissioner's Association, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and the American Baseball Coaches Association. He joined junior third baseman Kyle Walker (Wilmington, DE) and junior pitcher Jake Kelchner (Collegeville, PA) in being named first team All-Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference with the trio also picked second team CCA all-region.

Sophomore center fielder Christian Petrillo (New Brunswick, NJ) rounded out the awards field for the Lightning in being named second team All-CACC.

Kampes has beyond solidified his claim as one of the nation's top catchers and quite simply is one of the league's most feared players. A gifted athlete who is one of the College's elite among all sports, Kampes is a threat at all times with his incredible power, timely hitting, eye-opening speed and stupendous defense that has ended many opponents rallies.

One of the most exciting athletes and a privilege to watch compete, Kampes leaves behind enormous footprints within the program and huge shoes that will be tough to fill. He closed the year third in the country with a school-record 47 stolen bases (first in the CACC), 17th with a school-record 22 doubles (first in the CACC), second in the league with a school-record 56 RBI, third with 10 home runs, third with 75 hits, fifth with a .642 on-base percentage and sixth with a .368 batting average.

Making the CACC and NCAA Tournaments his time to shine, Kampes went on a tear in batting .439 (18-for-41) with five doubles, eight RBI, seven stolen bases and a 1.000 fielding percentage over 82 chances. In those 10 games, he recorded a hit in nine of them after earlier this season going on a 13-game hitting streak.

Kampes graduates first in school history with 54 stolen bases, third with 89 RBI, fourth with 16 home runs, fourth with a .319 batting average, fourth with 30 doubles and sixth with 109 hits.

Goldey-Beacom (37-20) this season had another sensational campaign in which it played in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three seasons, hosted a regional for the first time and broke the school record for most wins. The team also received votes in the NCBWA national poll prior to the NCAA Tournament, was second in the NCAA East Regional rankings and won four times against schools that competed in the NCAA Division II World Series.

This year also marked the third straight season the Lightning were part of the NCAA East Regional rankings.

Goldey-Beacom's first NCAA Tournament appearance was in 2021, when the squad notched two victories over nationally ranked Saint Thomas Aquinas. This was after the Lightning won the CACC South Division title, closing with a 22-9 overall record and 19-6 in the CACC.

The 2022 unit also excelled, ranked 14th nationally in the Collegiate Baseball preseason poll and recorded 27 wins.

The MLB Draft League, established in 2021, sees its last 50 games of the 80-game season for paid players who have finished their eligibility in college baseball. The Frederick Keys are one of six teams in the league.

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